Game's Extra

Aiden and Elena moved cautiously through the forest, their surroundings alive with the sound of rustling leaves and distant bird calls. As they ventured deeper, Elena struck up a conversation to fill the quiet.

"So, Aiden," Elena said, stepping over a fallen log, "have you always been this resourceful? Building spears and shelters like it's second nature?"

Aiden chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "I guess you could say I'm good at improvising. Comes in handy in situations like this."

Elena smirked. "You're either downplaying it or hiding something. Either way, I'm curious."

"Let's just focus on the test," Aiden replied, dodging the subject.

As they walked, Elena stopped suddenly, pointing to a tree trunk. "Look, there's a flag in that hollow."

Aiden crouched down and carefully retrieved it. "Got it. That's one more for us."

They continued searching and soon found another flag near the roots of an ancient tree. Elena knelt to pick it up, brushing dirt from its surface. "Two down. This might actually go smoothly."

The forest grew quieter as they pressed on. A faint murmur of voices reached their ears, causing both of them to freeze.

"Do you hear that?" Elena whispered.

Aiden nodded, signaling for her to stay low. They crept forward, peeking through the thick foliage. In a small clearing ahead, another team had set up a camp. The group from Team 1 appeared relaxed, chatting around a makeshift shelter.

"There are five of them," Elena murmured. "This could be tricky."

Aiden's mind raced. "If we're quick and coordinated, we can take them out in one swoop. I'll use my skill to bind them, but it'll drain me. Can you handle shocking two of them?"

Elena grinned. "Consider it done."

Aiden climbed a sturdy tree, positioning himself above the camp. Meanwhile, Elena circled around, silently approaching two of the students from behind. She met Aiden's gaze and nodded. Together, they counted down in their heads: 3... 2... 1...

Elena unleashed a burst of lightning magic, striking two of the students and rendering them momentarily paralyzed. At the same time, Aiden extended his hand toward a large tree, using his Overhaul ability. The tree's bark and branches disassembled and reformed into a snake-like wooden construct that lashed out, binding the remaining three students in one swift motion.

"What the?!" one of the trapped students shouted, struggling against the wooden binds.

Another yelled, "How did they find us?"

Elena stepped into the clearing with a triumphant smirk. "Guess you weren't as hidden as you thought."

Aiden climbed down from the tree and joined her. "Let's see what you've got here."

They searched the camp, finding five flags inside a makeshift tent. Elena picked them up, holding them with satisfaction. "Jackpot."

Aiden and Elena approached the immobilized students, pressing the elimination buttons on their watches. A bright light signaled their disqualification. Moments later, a group of academy mages arrived to escort them out of the forest.

As the mages and eliminated students disappeared, Aiden sighed. "That went better than expected."

Elena chuckled. "We make a good team."

On their way back to camp, Aiden spotted a rabbit darting through the underbrush. Using a wooden spear he quickly crafted, he caught the animal with ease. "Dinner's sorted," he said, holding up his catch.

Back at the camp, Aiden skinned and cooked the rabbit over a fire he built, the aroma filling the air. The sun began to set, casting long shadows over the forest. Despite the peaceful atmosphere, Aiden and Elena grew worried as the rest of their team had yet to return.

Finally, Felix and Olivia stumbled into the camp, their clothes torn and covered in dirt. Scratches marked their faces and arms, and their hair was a mess.

Elena stood abruptly. "What happened? Where's Tomas?"

Felix collapsed onto a log, catching his breath. "We were ambushed. There was a flag in an open field… it was a trap. Tomas stayed behind so we could escape."

Olivia added, "They chased us for a while, but we managed to lose them. Tomas… he got eliminated."

Aiden placed a reassuring hand on Felix's shoulder. "You two made it back. That's what matters."

Elena nodded. "Tomas did what he had to do. He'd want us to keep going."

Using his Overhaul ability, Aiden healed Felix and Olivia's wounds. They watched in awe as their injuries mended before their eyes but chose not to question it.

As night fell, the group settled in for rest. Aiden volunteered to keep watch, his eyes scanning the forest for any signs of danger. The first day of the test had come to an end, and the challenges ahead promised to be even greater.